The Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday reported the arrest of a 50-year-old Chinese national at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 over alleged involvement in illegal business operations in the Philippines.

The foreigner, identified as Shi Chaoqun, was intercepted on 5 December while attempting to leave the country.

The BI said Shi was the subject of information relayed by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform through the office of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, which indicated that Shi and other foreign nationals were allegedly connected to smuggling operations run through entities they had established in the country.

Further verification also showed that Shi violated the conditions of his stay in the Philippines by working with a business entity other than his petitioning company.

He was transferred to the BI Warden Facility in Taguig pending further investigation.

“If found guilty, Shi faces deportation and blacklisting from the country,” the BI said.